How David Foster Wallace explains the world — and other remarkable feats of literary insight and daring.

James Salter's stories are brilliantly composed and shockingly sad.

Paul Rayment, the slow man, is paralyzed literally and figuratively. The world around him gives the order.

Kenji does Tokyo sex tours — until he meets American Frank. Ryu Murakami saves the best for last.

Norwegian Linn Ullmann packs her story of detection and remorse with a whole lotta Ibsen.

Woodward's first two post-9/11 books examine how the U.S. decided to attack Afghanistan, and the (applauded) Bush consensus.

Francine Prose approaches pre-9/11 America with breezy, comic gusto. But there's a lot that isn't funny.

Ann Patchett's recounts her friendship with the doomed writer Lucy Grealy.

Murakami's "Boy Named Crow" grows tedious after he sees ghost number 20.